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SCG’s cement business sales down due to coronavirus lockdowns 11 November 2020
Thailand: SCG’s revenue from its cement-building materials business fell by 6% year-on-year to US$4.33bn in the first nine months of 2020. The group attributed this to poor demand resulting from coronavirus-related lockdowns. However, its earnings before interest, taxation, deprecation and amortisation (EBITDA) for the division rose by 9% to US$590m due to cost savings and lower energy prices. Overall, the group reported a similar picture with sales down but earnings up. National cement sales volumes rose slightly in the third quarter of 2020.
Exports continue to drive Çimsa’s sales so far in 2020 11 November 2020
Turkey: Çimsa’s net sales grew by 27% year-on-year to Euro175m in the first nine months of 2020. Its operating profit more than doubled to Euro37.1m. Local sales grew faster than export sales in the reporting period but export revenue remains greater than domestic revenue. Chief executive officer (CEO) Umut Zenar reflected this when he praised the company’s strong export performance despite the challenges posed by coronavirus.
Philippines: Japan-based Taiheiyo Cement has approved plans for the installation of a new 3.0Mt/yr production line at its integrated San Fernando cement plant in Cebu. The project at subsidiary Taiheiyo Cement Philippines (TCPI) will cost around US$280m.
The company said that it decided to build the upgrade in response to four-year demand growth of 30% to 32Mt/yr in 2019 from 24Mt/yr in 2015, in line with economic growth in the Philippines. It said, “Despite demand shrinking in 2020 due to the effects of the coronavirus pandemic, it is expected to rise again with strong gross domestic product (GDP) recovery, estimated to be 5% in 2021, and the massive infrastructure investment programme ‘Build Build Build’.”
The company added, “The new line will offer significant advantages in terms of energy efficiency and will reduce CO2 emissions from energy use in clinker production by more than 10% compared with the efficiency of the current line. Additionally, it is expected that the higher quality clinker produced with the new line will enable a reduction in the clinker factor and thereby realise a further CO2 reduction per tonne of cement produced.” The line has the potential for expansion to 5.0Mt/yr production capacity.
Raysut Cement breaks ground on Duqm grinding plant project 11 November 2020
Oman: Raysut Cement has held the groundbreaking ceremony for its new 1.0Mt/yr Duqm grinding plant. The project will cost US$30m. Chief executive officer (CEO) Joey Ghose said that, when operational, the plant will “contribute significantly to our ambitious capacity expansion targets of 10Mt/yr by 2022, which is expected to be further scaled up to 22Mt/yr in the near future. Secondly, it will help us generate more employment opportunities, aiding our efforts to enhance social and economic progress in Oman.”
The company acquired the lease to the site in the Port of Duqm in September 2019 as part of an on-going series of ‘calibrated’ investments in “locations where demand is high and locally available additives are at close proximity.” Ghose added, “Our aim is to develop Raysut Cement into a global leader in cement manufacturing, supply and exports, and the development of Duqm is an important element in this strategy. Our expansions are dovetailed to the opportunities that exist and are upcoming in the markets we focus on, for instance in East Africa - a booming market for the next 50 years.”
Dangote Cement and Bua Cement given permission to export cement by land from Nigeria 11 November 2020
Nigeria: Dangote Cement and Bua Cement have been allowed to export goods by land following a closure of land borders in mid 2019 due to smuggling. The government has granted permission for Dangote Cement to export its products to Niger and Togo, according to the Business Live newspaper. Bua Group has also received approval. However, Lafarge Africa has reportedly not yet received permission.